Deterring birds in blueberries: Three potential techniques. Deanna K. Leigh, WWU Karen M. M. Steensma, TWU

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1 Deterring birds in blueberries: Three potential techniques Deanna K. Leigh, WWU Karen M. M. Steensma, TWU

2 Outline Background and Study Site Deterrent methods Methyl anthranilate & sucrose sprays Falconry Hawk Kites Methods tested in other crops American Kestrel nest boxes Air dancers

3 Outline Background and Study Site Deterrent methods Methyl anthranilate & sucrose sprays Falconry Hawk Kites Methods tested in other crops American Kestrel nest boxes Air dancers

4 Study sites

5 Assessing Damage

6 Assessing Damage 1. Random selection of sample plants (60/block)

7 Assessing Damage 1. Random plant 2. Random branch

8 Assessing Damage 1. Random plant 2. Random branch 3. Mark

9 Assessing Damage 1. Random plant 2. Random branch 3. Mark 4. Count all blue + green berries

10 Assessing Damage 1. Random plant 2. Random branch 3. Mark 4. Count all blue + green berries 5. Recount at harvest to determine loss

11 Fruit Damage (% of total crop) Estimated bird damage to Pacific Northwest crops, Blueberries Cherries Grapes Apples

12 Outline Background and Study Site Deterrent methods Methyl anthranilate & sucrose sprays Falconry Hawk Kites Methods tested in other crops American Kestrel nest boxes Air dancers

13 Bird Deterrent Sprays Methyl Anthranilate (M.A.) Occurs in concord grapes Avian Control, Bird Stop Sucrose Table sugar (cane sugar, beet sugar, etc.)

14 M.A. & Sucrose

15 M.A. & Sucrose Control M.A. Sucrose

16 M.A. & Sucrose Fruit Damage (%) P > 0.99 Control M.A. Sucrose

17 M.A. & Sucrose in Michigan

19 Outline Background and Study Site Deterrent methods Methyl anthranilate & sucrose sprays Falconry Hawk Kites Methods tested in other crops American Kestrel nest boxes Air dancers

0.97 0.96 0.95 0.94 0.93 0.92 0.91 0.9 0.89 0.

20 Falconry 2012 pilot study suggests that falconry may reduce crop loss Proportion of Crop Remaining Control Falconry Photo: Natalie Jamerson

21 Falconry vs. Hawk Kites Professional falconers with trained birds of prey ~ $20,000/season Mimic birds of prey ~ $100/kite Pest birds may habituate Photos: Kate Steensma

22 Falconry vs. Hawk Kites Fruit Damage (%) Control Falconry Kites Falconry + Kites

23 Falconry vs. Hawk Kites Fruit Damage (%) Control Falconry Kites Falconry + Kites

24 Outline Background and Study Site Deterrent methods Methyl anthranilate & sucrose sprays Falconry Hawk Kites Methods tested in other crops American Kestrel nest boxes Air dancers

in cherries and sometimes in blueberries Adult kestrel on nest

25 American Kestrel Nest Boxes Kestrels territorial during nesting (Apr-Aug) Take readily to nest boxes Boxes used often in cherries and sometimes in blueberries Adult kestrel on nest box in Tri-Cities Fledgling kestrels in Lynden Photos: Kate Steensma

26 American Kestrel Nest Boxes Pilot study in sweet cherries Measured crop damage in kestrel-occupied and unoccupied blocks Control Kestrel 100 m

continue in 2014 Kestrel eating a starling in Lynden Photo:

27 American Kestrel Nest Boxes Lower damage in kestrel-occupied blocks Non-significant due to few trials (n=7) Study to continue in 2014 Kestrel eating a starling in Lynden Photo: Kate Steensma Fruit Damage (%) Control Kestrel

28 Outline Background and Study Site Deterrent methods Methyl anthranilate & sucrose sprays Falconry Hawk Kites Methods tested in other crops American Kestrel nest boxes Air dancers

29 Air Dancers $325 per setup Electric or generator Birds may habituate Positive pilot studies in MI and NY Testing in 2014 Photo: Kate Steensma

30 Deanna Leigh Field Team Curt Beyer Liz Matseur Cody Rossetti Kate Steensma

Acknowledgements Universities Driediger Farm Roy

Kaiser, OSU Catherine Lindell, MSU John McLaughlin,

Birchcreek Vineyard Blue Acres Farm Blue Valley Farms

Country Cousins Curt Maberry Farm Danninger Orchards

Gill Farm Golden Ridge Vineyard Hedeen Orchards Hence

Maberry Packing Mannina Cellars Perkins Apple Orchard

Brothers Farms Samson Farms, Inc Sekhon Farm Seven

W Bradley Carlson Farms Zerba Cellars Alfred Bucheli

Michael Lesky Humberto Ramirez Joel Reed Dan Whitney

Charlie Anderson Leighton Overson Vincent Clements

31 Acknowledgements Universities Driediger Farm Roy Farms, Inc Erick Sundstrom Colleen Burrows, WSU Clive Kaiser, OSU Catherine Lindell, MSU John McLaughlin, WWU Growers Ash Hollow Winery Bellewood Acres Birchcreek Vineyard Blue Acres Farm Blue Valley Farms Broetje Orchards Cascadian Farm CDS Distributing Country Cousins Curt Maberry Farm Danninger Orchards East View Blueberry Farm Enfield Farms Flat Top Ranch Gill Farm Golden Ridge Vineyard Hedeen Orchards Hence Cellars J4 Ranch L'ecole 41 Lodmell Cellars M&G Farms Maberry Packing Mannina Cellars Perkins Apple Orchard PS Farms PTM Berry Farms, LLC S&A Orchards Sakuma Brothers Farms Samson Farms, Inc Sekhon Farm Seven Hills Vineyard Terra Nostra Vineyard Tertulia Cellars W Bradley Carlson Farms Zerba Cellars Alfred Bucheli Pete Dykstra Edward Gefre Don Hofstad Ed Kenoyer Michael Lesky Humberto Ramirez Joel Reed Dan Whitney Mickey Witherspoon Others Airstrike Bird Control Charlie Anderson Leighton Overson Vincent Clements Natalie Jamerson Janelle Lowen Jesse McKeen-Scott Ben Oldham Veronica Wisniewski

Two New Invasive Pests in Washington: Spotted Wing Drosophila and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Two New Invasive Pests in Washington: Spotted Wing Drosophila and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Northwest Wholesale Pesticide Recertification Meeting Pateros Central Building, Pateros, WA 21 February 2013